Favre Traded To Jets

Posted: Thu 5:23 AM, Aug 07, 2008&nbsp|&nbsp

Updated: Thu 4:31 PM, Aug 07, 2008

Brett Favre left Green Bay on Wednesday,most likely for good. While he has gone home to Mississippi for thetime being, he could end up in New York very soon. Fox Sports reported on its Web site late Wednesday night thatthe Packers have traded the quarterback to the Jets. The reportsaid the exact compensation wasn't immediately known, but isbelieved to be a single draft pick that increases in valuedepending on New York's performance during the season. The Jets declined to comment on the report. Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, confirmed in an e-mail to TheAssociated Press earlier Wednesday that the Jets and Tampa BayBuccaneers were emerging as the most likely trade destinations forthe three-time MVP. Packers general manager Ted Thompson skipped practice Wednesdaymorning, and his scheduled early afternoon media availability waspostponed indefinitely - signs that a deal could be in the works.Thompson also was not seen at Wednesday night's practice, althoughteam president and CEO Mark Murphy made an appearance. Favre was on a private plane that left for Hattiesburg, Miss. at1:25 p.m. EDT Cook and Favre's wife, Deanna, also were aboard theplane that landed two hours later. Favre's family home is nearHattiesburg. In Mississippi, Favre confirmed that he was considering the Jetsand Buccaneers. "We're working on it," Favre said in video posted on JacksonTV station WJTV's Web site. "Hopefully we can get somethingresolved. I've been saying that for quite a while now. I don't wantto say we're running out of time, but I need to get into a campsomewhere." Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden refused to address speculation thatthe team was on the verge of a deal for Favre, sidestepping aquestion about whether he had spoken to Favre Tuesday night. "I'm not going to talk about it," Gruden said. "I don't knowanything other than what happened today on the practice field, andI don't want to address any more speculation at this point. Brett'ssituation will resolve itself during the coming days I wouldassume. But at this point and time, all I can comment on is ourfootball team and what we did today." Gruden acknowledged that he's always willing to explore ways toimprove his team. "We are a good football team," Gruden said. "We're trying tobecome a great one. We'll do anything we can to get better. And ifthat involves looking at other players, by George that's our job.That's our responsibility." Packers coach Mike McCarthy spoke to Favre again Tuesday night,but there was no indication that their conversation did anything tochange the fractured relationship between Favre and the franchise. "It was just very general," McCarthy said of the conversationwith Favre, who was excused from practice Wednesday. "Just how hewas doing, where he was with the process, things like that." McCarthy said he was happy the rest of his players were gettinga chance to move forward. "We talked about it last night," McCarthy said. "The playerswant resolution, they want what everybody wants. To come out hereevery day and talk about somebody that is not here and then showsup, it's gone on too long, and understandably so. They want to playfootball." Packers players vented frustration over the Favre situationTuesday, after fans chanting "Bring Back Brett!" turned practiceinto a zoo-like atmosphere and reporters continued asking questionsabout Favre instead of football. After McCarthy made it clear Tuesday that Favre's footballfuture wouldn't be in Green Bay, players seemed to have some senseof closure. "It was just important to get things moving," Packers tackleMark Tauscher said. "Obviously, there's no closure as of yet, butI think we've kind of been told what's going on and I think we allkind of know where everything stands." Packers cornerback Charles Woodson - who said Tuesday that thesaga had "gone on long enough" - said Wednesday that the Packers'front office gave players the answers they needed. "From what I understand, for the most part it's taken careof," Woodson said. "Now it's just about the Packers and not aboutthe situation. It's over now. From what I understand, it's prettymuch over." And if the Packers end up playing against Favre in Tampa onSept. 28? "Once you're on another team, you're on another team," Woodsonsaid. "I think for the most part the locker room would have likedto see him back here. But like I say, once you're on another team..." The final split between the Packers and Favre became obviousTuesday night. McCarthy told reporters that after extensiveconversations with Favre over two days, he had determined thatFavre doesn't have the right mind-set to play for the Packers. After approximately six hours of what McCarthy called "brutallyhonest" conversations with Favre, McCarthy said Favre couldn'tseem to get past emotional wounds that were opened as tensionsmounted in recent weeks - even with the chance to win his startingjob back potentially on the table. "The train has left the station, whatever analogy you want,"McCarthy said Tuesday. "He needs to jump on the train and let'sgo. Or, if we can't get past things that have happened, I have tokeep the train moving." Favre left Lambeau Field just before Packers practice Tuesdayafternoon. "We're at a stalemate," Favre told ESPN Tuesday morning.

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